I sat down just now to begin to write and that was about the best title I could come up with. Getting through the days. It sometimes feels that way.
I wonder if anyone else likes that phrase. I wonder if anyone else uses it like I do.
We watch the news. We read the papers. We scroll through the endless arguments on our timelines, or drive down our streets and view protestors of one stream or another doing what protestors do, and we just try to get through our days.
Yea, perhaps I am a bit depressed.
I’m not sure you’re aware, but there is a pandemic happening around us. Whether it is a pandemic caused by a virus or outrage or apathy I really don’t know. But clearly there is an infection that keeps getting worse. They tell me that the hospitals are full. And they tell me that the media is overblowing a flu. And they tell me that masks and vaccines are worthless. And they tell me that the government is attempting to strip citizens of their rights.
But me? I’m just trying to get through the days.
I read a lot of history. I also read a lot of human nature. Neither of these sources make me what I would call an optimist.
But they do lead me to one absolutely clear conclusion. That conclusion is simple:
This too shall pass.
I certainly don’t want to pretend to be some sort of expert and I absolutely don’t want to engage with any of the constant debates that rage across the many platforms of debate that humans have access to. But there is one thing I am trying to learn to do, that I would like to recommend as a possible option if you decide to possibly, just maybe, think about taking my advice.
It’s simple really, but oh my gosh it’s so very hard.
Rise above.
That’s it. Simply rise above. Wish everyone the best. Do the best you can. And take a longer view.
We celebrate 20 years after 9/11 this week. I remember the anger. I remember the fear. I remember the rage. We had a righteous cause, too. Thousands of Americans murdered by terrorists. I’m not trying to question our choices or our anger back then. It was all very justified. But twenty years later I do wonder what that anger, fear, and rage earned us.
Now we’re just angry and afraid for different reasons.
I keep wondering if there is a better way.
Then I remember the teachings of Jesus. Man, I gotta tell you, his way of life sucks sometimes. It’s ok to be honest about that. In fact, I think it’s super important to be honest about that. We need to all be able to say that forgiveness stinks. We need to say that revenge, self protection, and personal liberty seem to us to make the most sense of a way to live together in a society.
But the thing is, this guy, Jesus, that’s not his way. He forgave people who didn’t ask. He decided to sacrifice his life for people who didn’t give a rip about him. And worst of all he gave up his freedom for other people.
A lot of people I know would call him a loser or a coward. And I won’t lie to you, most days I have no interest in following his way of life. I want to fight, convince, and argue. I want to get my way. I want to defend myself against people who would challenge me. It seems to make the most sense after all, and it’s certainly what comes most natural to me.
But instead I am just trying to get through the days. I don’t want to argue about all the things people are arguing about. Yes, I do have opinions. I haven’t reached that level of grace yet. But I am really going to do my very best to try to follow that guy Jesus. He didn’t have an axe to grind. I have one, but I’m trying to stay far far away from the grindstone.
What will that accomplish? Why not just rampage in there with my axe and join the fray? I think because what I’m learning is that it is no way to live. In twenty years we will all have forgotten about this week’s rage and we will be raging about things we can’t even begin to imagine today.
I’m just trying to follow that guy Jesus who taught an incredibly difficult and unnatural way of life. I’m gonna (try to) lay down my axe and just rise above it all.
Maybe one day when I can finally let it all go, I will be just a little more like him. I think that’s what I am after.